Assessing and Revitalizing Immunization through Social Engagement (ARISE)

Evidence from the previous epidemics have demonstrated that temporary disruptions of routine immunization services could lead to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, amplifying morbidity and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to major disruptions in routine immunization services in India with a substantial decrease in routine immunization services in March 2020, at least 100,000 and 200,000 children missed their BCG and pentavalent vaccine doses, respectively. Reported causes of the interrupted immunizations are diverse, ranging from fear within the community, movement restrictions and, changing priorities in healthcare. A vast majority of frontline health workers have been reassigned to COVID-19 related activities, creating a void at the community level.

We, at the Johns Hopkins Maternal and Child Health Center India, are working with Bal Umang Drishya Sanstha (BUDS), a non-profit organization in India, to enhance the uptake of routine immunization among pregnant women and children under 2 years of age. Located in 2 blocks of Mewat, Haryana, the project draws on Socio-Ecological Model to mobilize community for spreading awareness about the significance of routine immunization. BUDS has established two Vaccination Knowledge Hubs that would act as centers for knowledge sharing and training for the frontline health workers and peer leaders to become child rights advocates regarding routine immunization. The monitoring and evaluation component will capture the effect of community mobilization and vaccination knowledge hub on the uptake of vaccination among pregnant women and children.